Our Services

The Doctors of Rehabilitation and Orthopedic Center of Kauai, LLC are committed to providing the Kauai community with the most cutting-edge, evidence-based and skilled physical therapy intervention on the island. The PT services that will provided will cover a large spectrum of patient populations including, but not limited to:

Our Team

Dr. Jesse R. PasagPT, DPT, OCS

Dr. Jesse R Pasag, DPT, OCS (co-member) is an American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist. Dr. Pasag has been practicing physical therapy here on Kauai since 2010 where his focus has been on providing the residents of Kauai cutting-edge manual therapy intervention with an emphasis on spinal rehabilitation.

Dr. Pasag is a graduate of the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) in 2000 with a Bachelors of Science degree in Physiological Science. Dr. Pasag went on to obtain his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Southern California (USC) in 2007. In 2008, Dr. Pasag completed a year-long orthopedic residency with Kaiser Permanente’s Orthopedic Residency Program. He received his Orthopedic Clinical Specialist Certification in 2010.

Dr. Pasag has volunteered and participated in various community and neighborhood events across the island where he was able to provide physical therapy consultation, treatment and medical expertise on a pro bono basis. Dr. Pasag has helped many of Kauai’s residents – from keiki to kupuna – regain lost function, all while improving their strength, reducing their pain and increasing their independence.

Dr. Jennifer Tavares-PasagPT, DPT

Dr, Jennifer M Tavares-Pasag, DPT (co-member) is a Kauai-born “local-girl” who graduated from Waimea High School in 1999. Dr. Tavares-Pasag then went on to college at Pacific Lutheran University where she graduated with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Physical Education in 2003.

While in college, Dr. Tavares-Pasag always knew she wanted to return to Kauai to focus on helping the special needs keiki, so she furthered her education by attending the University of Southern California (USC) to obtain her graduate degree. In 2006, Dr. Tavares-Pasag obtained her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree.

Instead of returning to Kauai immediately after graduating with her doctorate, Dr. Tavares-Pasag thought she would better serve the keiki of Kauai by gaining valuable clinical experience working with the special needs community of Los Angeles. She worked 4 years with California Children’s Services where she developed her pediatric skill-set, as well as gained invaluable experience managing a bi-weekly orthotics clinic, as well as a monthly durable medical equipment clinic.

Dr. Tavares-Pasag brought her experience and love for our special-needs population to the island of Kauai – her home – in 2010 where she began working for the State of Hawaii’s Department of Education. Dr. Tavares-Pasag has been a physical therapist serving the island of Kauai’s school system for the past 6 years.

Dr. Melissa JamerinoPT, DPT – Staff Physical Therapist

Melissa was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. She began her college career swimming for North Carolina State University, majoring in Biological Sciences. As a student athlete, she graduated with summa cum laude honors and advanced on to get her doctorate in physical therapy at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.

Following her dream to move to Kauai, she has gained seven years experience in out-patient orthopedic sports medicine physical therapy. Her treatment style involves the integration of the mind and body, with an emphasizes on the interconnectedness of our musculoskeletal system. Melissa believes in the importance of education and empowering patients to have a greater understanding of their body and awareness of movement. She has strong experience in core stabilization exercises, ACL injury prevention methods, and myofascial trigger point release techniques. Outside of the clinic, Melissa spends her time training as a competitive crossfit athlete and olympic weightlifter.

Mana ShigematsuPhysical Therapy Aide

Mana is a Waimea High School graduate and has his Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from Colorado Mesa University. Before joining the team at ROCK Physical Therapy, he was a personal trainer for three years at Gold’s Gym where he worked with a variety of clients ranging from high school athletes to senior citizens. Helping patients through the recovery process is fulfilling because he knows how challenging it can be (physically and mentally), as he has gone through physical therapy following four different surgeries. In his free time, he enjoys going to the gym, playing soccer, and watching sports. He will be attending the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Bond University, Gold Coast, Australia in May 2019.

Ashley BonillaFront Office Administrator

Ashley Bonilla is a member of the front office team at ROCK Physical Therapy. She received her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. When she isn’t working, she spends time gardening, practicing yoga and playing with her dogs. She is currently in the process of applying to nursing school.

Joshua LuceroFront Office Administrator

Joshua Lucero is a graduate of Sonoma State University and a member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). Joshua was a four-year starter for the Sonoma State Men’s Lacrosse team until her earned his Bachelor’s degree of Kinesiology in 2013. After graduation, Josh joined one of San Diego’s premier lacrosse leagues, San Diego Lacrosse Club. He is passionate about youth sports and coaching and is studying to obtain his Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) certificate. Josh currently resides in Kalaheo and enjoys playing basketball, golf, and spending time with his dog Ben.